Machine for conditioning waste material for recycling

ABSTRACT

A machine which bales waste material to condition it for recycling and thus helps alleviate waste disposal problems which lead to pollution. The machine includes a ram which reciprocates to compact waste material in a container and ultimately eject the waste material in the form of a bale. The resistance of the compacted material to the ram is sensed to reverse the ram automatically. In an automatic mode, the ram keeps reciprocating and compacting as long as the input of the machine is loaded until a full bale is formed and ejected. Excess waste material at the input is sheared off. A manipulator is disclosed which facilitates binding of the compacted waste into a bale. Drive means and control means are disclosed. The ram can move all the way to the discharge end of the container or any compacting position short of the discharge end to give uniformity of compaction. The bale weight is fully adjustable.

United States Patent 1 1191 Gilman [111 3,827,350 [451 Aug. 6, 1974 [76]Inventor: Winthrop W. Gilman, 565 16th Ave., South Naples, Fla. 33940[22] Filed: Apr. 28, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 248,709

[52] US. Cl 100/52, 100/53, 100/218, 100/256 [51] Int. Cl 1330b 15/26[58] Field of Search 100/49, 52, 98 R, 190,

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,201,695 10/1916 Case etal. 100/190 2,508,877 5/1950 Walker et al. 100/250 2,591,970 4/1952Seegers et al. 100/98 R 2,775,930 l/l957 Anderson et a1. 100/2503,543,676 12/1970 Brown l0O/52 3,580,166 5/1971 Longo 100/49 3,613,56010/1971 Bottas et a1 lOO/52 3,625,139 12/1971 Gollnick 100/49 3,688,6869/1972 Ligh 100/52 3,714,890 2/1973 Moon 100/52 3,762,312 [0/1973 Guhl..100/52 Primary Examiner-Billy J. Wilhite Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Oltman and Flynn [57] ABSTRACT A machine which bales waste materialto condition it for recycling and thus helps alleviate waste disposalproblems which lead to pollution. The machine in cludes a ram whichreciprocates to compact waste material in a container and ultimatelyeject the waste ma terial in the form of a bale. The resistance of thecom pacted material to the ram is sensed to reverse the ramautomatically. In an automatic mode, the ram keeps reciprocating andcompacting as long as the input of the machine is loaded until a fullbale is formed and ejected. Excess waste material at the input issheared off. A manipulator is disclosed which facilitates binding of thecompacted waste into a bale. Drive means and control means aredisclosed. The ram can move all the way to the discharge end of thecontainer or any compacting position short of the discharge end to giveuniformity of compaction. The bale weight is fully adjustable.

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MACHINE FOR CONDITIONING WASTE MATERIAL FOR RECYCLING BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION At the present time, considerable attention is being directedto pollution of the environment. How to dispose of waste material, suchas paper, cardboard, plastics and the like, is one of the problemsfacing those concerned with protecting the environment. It has beensuggested that the most effective way to reduce the harmful effects onthe environment caused by known means of disposing of such wastematerial is to recycle a large portion of the waste material. Forexample, waste paper can be recycled through the manufacturing processto produce usable paper products.

In order tobe recycled, waste paperand other related waste materialsshould be put into a condition in which it can be handled economically.One way of accomplishing this is to compact the waste material and bindit into bales. Most known equipment for accomplishing such baling hasinvolved a hydraulic press, and the hydraulic system has provedtroublesome. The equipment has been heavy and bulky, and in general hasnot been suitable for installation in many business establishments.Also, operation of known equipment has required considerable labor whichcontributes to the overall expense of operation and maintenance of theequipment. The bales produced by such machinery have often been poorlycompacted, and the bales sometimes are not uniform in density. Thus, thebales sometimes come apart or deteriorate when they are subjected to thestresses of handling enroute to the recycling manufacturing process.Some machines have not been as fully automatic as desired. A problemwith automatic operation has been how to prevent the machine from eitherstopping or running out of control when excess waste material is fedinto the machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The machine of the invention is anelectromechanical machine as contrasted to a hydraulic machine, and itis considerably smaller and lighter than many known hydraulic machines.The machine includes a ram which is preferably driven by an electricmotor coupled to the ram with drive screws. The ram reciprocates in acontainer and can move all the way to the discharge end of the containeror to any compacting position short of the discharge end. As the ramcompacts material against a releasable closure at the discharge end ofthe container, the resistance of the compacted material is sensed,preferably by sensing overload current in the motor. This automaticallyreverses the ram which then moves back toward the input end of themachine. A hopper or other feeding means is provided at the input end,and as the ram moves forward, it shears off any excess waste material inthe hopper. The ram pulls behind it a hopper closure which holds backthe excess material. The ram moves forward until it is reversed by theoverload sensor to give uniform density of compaction. In an automaticmode of operation, the forward stroke of the ram is started by aphotocell which senses waste material collected in the hopper. The ramkeeps reciprocating until a full bale is sensed, and the ram then stops.The ram is adjusted to a proper position for baling, and binding strandsare pulled around the com pacted material by means of a manipulator.After binding, the closure at the discharge end of the container isopened, and the ram moves forward to eject the bale. The size and weightof the bale is fully adjustable. The highly automatic nature of themachine cuts down on labor required to operate the machine. Due to theuniform density of compaction, the bales come out in wellformedcondition which helps them to resist the stresses encountered inhandling.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved machine for compacting and baling waste material to put it ingood condition for recycling.

Another object of the invention is to provide a baling machine which isautomatic in operation to a large degree.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electromechanicalbaling machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine which compactswaste material relatively uniformly throughout a bale.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic bale trimmerfor a baling machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine for compactingand baling waste material in which the weight of the bale is fullyadjustable.

A further object of the invention is to facilitate handling of bindingstrands in the baling machine by means of a manipulating mechanism forhandling the strands.

Another object of the invention. is to eliminate skirts at the trailingedge of a bale compacted in a baling machine.

Another object of the invention is to initiate the automatic operationof a baling machine by sensing collected material at the feeding inputof the machine.

A further object of the invention is to move a ram all the way to thedischarge end of the baling machine in order to eject a bale from themachine.

Another object of the invention is to pull the platen or ram of a balingmachine forward with drive screws.

Another object is to provide a vertically swinging closure at thedischarge end of the baling machine.

Other objects of this invention will appear from the followingdescription and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification wherein like referencecharacters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of amachine in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the feed end of the machine;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the discharge end of the machine;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the machine;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the machine taken along line5-5 of FIG. 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross sectional view of the machine taken alongline 6-6 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in dashedlines, illustrating the operation of a hopper closure included in themachine;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the shearing action of aram of the machine with a trailing edge of an opening at the input ofthe machine;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view along line l010 of FIG. 1 illustrating theoperation of two manipulators which insert and handle baling strands;

FIG. 1'] is an enlarged perspective view showing the lower end of onemanipulator being inserted into a loop of the strand;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to FIG. 11, butshowing the end of the manipulator rotated so that it recaptures theloop of the strand;

FIG. 13 illustrates the manner in which one of the strands loops aroundthe compacted waste material so as to bind it into a bale;

FIG. 14 illustrates a completed bale;

FIG. 15 is a schematic electrical diagram of a control circuit of themachine;

FIG. 16 is the first of a series of schematic views illustrating thecondition of the machine at the beginning of a cycle;

FIG. 17 is another schematic view showing the condition of the machineafter the ramhas moved forward and compacted some of the waste material;

FIG. 18 is a further schematic view showing the condition of the machineafter a full bale has been compacted; and

FIG. 19 shows the completed bale being ejected from the machine.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited in its application to thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, since the invention is caable of otherembodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also,it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employedherein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The machine 20 compacts and bales waste materialsuch as paper, cardboard, plastics and other such material to facilitaterecycling of the material. Waste material in bale form is more readilymarketable and usable in a recycling process than loose waste material.It is desirable that the bales be well formed and capable ofwithstanding rough handling. Such bales are produced by the machine 20.

The machine includes an elongated container 22 which, in thisembodiment, has horizontally spaced channel members 24 and 26 (FIG. 4)at the top and bottom sides of the container. The vertical sides of thecontainer, in this embodiment, are continuous sheets 28. Thus, thecontainer 22 is essentially an elongated box.

The feeding end of the container is at 30, and the discharge end of thecontainer is at 32. The feeding end 30 is closed permanently by a rigidwall 34 surrounded by tubular bracing members 36. The discharge end 32has an opening which is normally closed by a closure 38 in the form of avertically swinging door. I-Iinging means 40 connects the top of theclosure door 38 to the top of the container, the fixed portions of thehinges being mounted on tubular bracing members 42. A latch 44 ispivotally connected to the vertical tubular member 42, and the latch 44has a slot 48 which receives a pin 50 mounted on the lower end of thedoor 38. With pin 50 in slot 48, the door 30 is latched closed. Torelease the door, the operator depresses the left end 46 of the latch 44thus raising the slotted end off the pin 50. This releases the door 38so that it can swing upward to a raised open position as the bale isejected. Identical latches 44 are provided on both the left and rightside of the machine as shown in FIG. 3.

Just behind tubular braces 52 located near the midpoint of the machine,there is an upstanding hopper 54 through which waste material is fedinto the machine. Mounted on the hopper 54 is a control panel 56containing switches which are part of the control circuit of the machineas will be explained. At the right side of the hopper 54 as viewed inFIG. 1, there are two manipulators 58 and 60 which facilitate handlingof binding strands that are used to bind the compacted material. Aphotocell 62 is also mounted on the hopper, and it serves to initiatethe automatic cycle of the machine, as will be described further. Ingeneral, in the automatic mode of the machine, the hopper may be filledup to the level of the photocell 62 and then the machine will startoperating automatically.

Referring particularly to FIG. 5, it may be seen that inside thecontainer 22 there is a ram 64 which is movable back and forth along thelength of the container. The ram can move from a first position at thefeed end 30 of the machine where it is shown in FIG. 5 all the way alongthe length of the machine to a second position at the discharge end 32where the ram is shown for example in FIG. 18. The ram 64 can move toother positions short of the discharge position as shown, for example,in FIG. 17.

The ram 64 is essentially a platen reinforced by tubular elements 66.The ram 64 has two vertical recesses 68 and 70 formed in its front faceas shown in FIG. 6.

The drive means for the ram 64 includes two long drive screws 72 and 74mounted on opposite vertical sides of the machine as shown in FIG. 4.The drive screws 72 and 74 are journalled in bearings such as thebearing 76 shown in FIG. 1. Bearings for the screws may be mounted inthe tubular bracing members 36 and 42. The screws threadably engagereceivers 78 and 80 mounted in blocks 82 and 84 which are attached toopposite sides of the ram 64 as shown in FIG. 7. The blocks 82 and 84may be braced as by gussets 86 and 88.

An electric motor 90 is mounted at the feed end 30 of the machine.

The motor 90 is a reversible three-phase type in the illustratedembodiment, and its drive shaft 92 is coupled by chains 94 and 96 tosprockets 98 and 100 which are connected to the drive screws 72 and 74re spectively. The threads of the drive screws are arranged such that asthe motor 90 operates in one direction (forward) both drive screws pullthe ram 64 forward toward the discharge end 32 of the machine, and asthe motor 90 operates in the other (reverse) direction, the drive screws72 and 74 move the ram 64 backward toward the feed end 30 of themachine. Because the platen can move over the full length of the machinecompletely to the discharge end, it is possible for the bale to beejected by the platen or ram 64.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, it may be seen that one knife edge member102 is mounted on top of the ram 64 as with screws 104, and anotherknife edge member 106 is mounted on the container 22 just under thebracing member 52 at the trailing edge of the opening between the hopper54 and the container 22. These knife edges 102 and 106 constituteshearing means for shearing excess material in the hopper 54 off fromwaste material in the container 22 as the ram 64 moves forward past theopening at the lower end of the hopper 54. In FIG. 9, the knife edgemembers 102 and 106 are shown as they are about to shear a piece ofwaste material 110.

In FIG. 8, a closure for the opening at the bottom of the hopper 54 isshown which consists of three telescoping door sections 112, 114 and116. These door sections ride or slide on upper edges 118 near the topof the machine and these edges may be slots formed in the wall of themachine. The edges 118 slant upward slightly. The door sections 112, 114and 116 are shown in dashed lines in a fully telescoped condition at theleft side of FIG. 8. Door section 112 has a lip 120 which projects downfrom its leading edge into a slot 122 at the top of ram 64. Doorsections 112 and 114 have upwardly projecting lips 124 and 126 at theirtrailing edges, and door sections 114 and 116 have downwardly projectinglips 128 and 130 at their leading ends. Lips 128 and 130 are picked upby lips 124 and 126 as the door sections move across the opening at thebottom of the hopper 54. When the door sections are fully extended, theyclose this opening as shown in solid lines in FIG. 8. When the ram 64reaches the position shown in FIG. 8 in solid lines, the lip 120 hasrisen out of the slot 122 so the ram 64 is free to advance furtherleaving the door sections in the condition shown in FIG. 8 in solidlines. Thus, the ram not only shears off excess material in the hopper,but it also pulls a door behind it which closes off the hopper to keepthe excess material in the hopper. The overall effect of this operationis to prevent a skirt from forming at the trailing edge of the balewhile it is being compressed.

When the ram 64 moves in reverse, the lip 120 is engaged by the rearedge of the knife edge member 102 and gradually comes down into the slot122. A dog 132 on top of section 112 picks up on the leading edge ofsection 114, and another dog 134 on top of section 114 picks up on theleading edge of section 116 to push the door sections back into thefully telescoped condition shown in dashed lines in FIG. 8.

The operation of the manipulators 58 and 60 is shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and12. Cooperating with the manipulators 58 and 60, there are two retainers136 and 138 mounted in the spaces between channel members 26 at thebottom of the container 22, as shown in FIG. 10. Each of these retainersincludes a pair of spring biased jaws such as the jaws 140 and 142 shownin FIGS. 11 and 12. The manipulators 58 and 60 may be rods havinghandles 144 and 146 at their upper ends that normally hang on hooks suchas hook 148 shown in FIG. 1. The lower end of each manipulator isslotted as illustrated in FIG. 11 for the manipulator 60. Manipulatorhas a flattened portion 150 at its lower end, and the flattened portion150 has slots 152 which ex tend toward each other from opposite verticaledges. When a binding strand such as a wire is to be inserted into theretainer 136, a loop 154 at one end of the strand is placed in one ofthe slots 152, and the manipulator 60 is inserted down through spacesbetween the channel members 24 to insert the strand 156 between the jawsand 142 which spread apart slightly to receive the strand in an opening158. The jaws then close under spring pressure, the spring not beingshown. While the loop is being inserted, the flattened portion is in theposition shown in FIG. 12. The manipulator is then removed by rotatingit 'to the position shown in FIG. 11 and lifting it out of the top ofthe container.

The free end of the strand 156 is laid along the bottom of the container22 and up past the door 38 out the top of the container where the freeend 160 is shown in FIG. 13. However, it will be remembered that theloop is still retained in the retainer 136 at this stage. After a bale162 has been formed in the machine, the manipulator 60 is pushed down toinsert the flattened portion 150 through the loop 154, and is rotated tothe position shown in FIG. 12. The manipulator 60 can then be pulled upto bring the loop up to the position shown in FIG. 13. Then the free end160 can be tied off at the loop 154. Both manipulators 58 and 60 areoperated in the same way, so two binding strands 156 are shown bindingthe bale 162 in FIG. 14.

At the time the manipulators are inserted down to recapture the loops154, the ram 64 is at a position known as the full bale limit position.As shown in FIG. 6, the ram 64 has vertical slots 68 and 70 throughwhich the manipulators 58 and 60 may be inserted to reach the retainers136 and 138.

The control means of the machine will be described with reference toFIGS. 15 through 19. Three phase electrical current is supplied to thewindings of the motor 90 through lines L1, L2 and L3. A load 164 for thecontrol circuit is connected across lines L1 and L3. Fuses 166 may beprovided in lines L1, L2 and L3. Line Ll divides into branches U1 andL"1 which are in parallel with each other. Similarly, line L2 dividesinto branches L2 and L2, and line L3 divides into branches U3 and L"3.Branches L 1, L2 and L3 contain reverse mode contacts 168, 170 and 172.Branches L"l, L"2 and L"3 contain forward mode contacts 174, 176 and178. All of these contacts are normally open. Contacts 174, 176 and 178are wired to the motor 90 in the reverse of contacts 168, 170 and 172such that the former contacts control the forward operation of themotor, and the latter contacts control the reverse operation.

The line 180 connects to line L1, and line 182 connects to line L3. Anormally closed momentary contact switch 184 is connected in line 180and interrupts power to the control circuit when opened for stopping themachine. The various controls are connected between lines 180 and 182.

A line 186 connected between lines 180 and 182 includes the coil 188 ofthe forward relay with which contacts 174, 176 and 178 are associated.This relay also has normally open contacts 190 in line 186. The coil 192of the reverse timing relay is connected in a line 194 across lines 180and 182. Relay 192 has normally closed contacts 196 in line 186, andalso has contacts 198, 200, 203 and 204 which will be explained.

The coil 206 of a reverse relay is connected to line 186 and in a pathwhich branchesoff from line 194. The reversing contacts 168, 170 and 172are associated with the relay coil 206. Relay coil 192 provides reversedelay as will be explained.

The coil 208 of a control relay is connected in a line 210 across lines180 and 182 and also connected in this line is a normally open switch212 which establishes the control circuit in an automatic mode when itis closed. Switch 212 is bypassed by latching contacts 214 for relay208. A lamp 216 lights up when the circuit is in the automatic mode. Aline 218 connects from line 182 back to line 186, and contacts 220 ofrelay 208 are connected in this line. The contacts 222 represent thephotocell 62 and they are also located in line 218. Also in line 218 isthe coil 224 of a relay which provides forward delay action, and thisrelay has contacts 226 in line 218 near the point where it connects toline 186.

For manual control of the machine, a forward switch 228 may be closed todrive the ram of the machine forward, and a reverse switch 230 may beclosed to drive the ram of the machine backward. A reverse limit switchhas contacts 232 and 234, and a forward limit switch 236 is connected inline 186. A full bale limit switch 238 is opened by the ram and heldopen when the bale is fully formed. The reverse limit switch is shown at232 in FIG. 5, and the full bale limit switch is shown at 238 in thisfigure. The forward limit switch 236 is shown in FIG. 1.

The coil 240 of a current sensing relay is located in line L2. Thisrelay has contacts 242 located in line 194. The relay 240 sensesoverload current being supplied to the motor when it is operating in theforward direction, and it serves to switch the control circuit from theforward mode to the reverse mode whenthe motor current exceeds apredetermined threshold level. This results when the resistance of thecompacted material reaches a desired level.

In describing the operation of the control circuit, it will be assumedthat the ram 64 is in the position shown in FIG. where it actuates thereverse limit switch to close contact 232 and open contact 234. Thecircuit is in the condition shown in FIG. at this time.

In the manual mode of operation, the forward switch 228 is closed, andthis pulls in forward relay coil 188 to close contacts 174, 176 and 178,thus operating the motor 90 in the forward direction to drive the ram 64forward. Contacts 190 also close to latch in the coil of relay 188 andkeep it energized after switch 228 opens. As soon as the ram 64 leavesthe position shown in FIG. 5, reverse limit switch contact 232 opens andcontact 234 closes. Assuming that there is waste material in the machinein the manner shown in FIG. 16, the ram goes forward and compresses thiswaste material to the condition shown in FIG. 17. Excess waste materialin the hopper is sheared off as shown in FIG. 17. When the motor currentexceeds the predetermined threshold level referred to previouslyindicating that the resistance of the compacted material has reached thedesired level, the coil 240 of the current sensing relay for the motorpulls in, and this closes contacts 242. Reverse timing relay 192 thenpulls in opening contacts 196 to drop out the forward relay 188 and opencontacts 174, 176 and 178. The motor 90 then stops. After a delay,contacts 204 of reverse timing relay 192 also close, and this energizesthe reverse relay coil 206 which then closes contacts 168, 170 and 172to drive the motor 90 in reverse. The ram 64 then goes backward throughthe machine until it strikes the reverse limit switch 232 to opencontact 234 and close contact 232. The opening of contact 234 drops outreverse timing relay 192 and reverse relay 206, thus again stopping themotor.

In the automatic mode, switch 212 is closed. This pulls in the controlrelay coil 208, and contacts 214 and 220 close while contact 221 opens.The closing of contact 214 latches in the coil 208 of the control relay.

The lamp 216 lights to indicate that the machine is in the automaticmode. When the electric eye 222 closes indicating that the hopper isfull, line 218 is completed to pull in the forward timing relay 224.This closes contact 226 which completes a branch circuit to relay coil188, so this relay coil pulls in closing the forward contacts 174, 176and 178 to operate the motor forward and drive the ram forward. Relay188 latches through contacts 190. As soon as the ram leaves the reverselimit switch 232, contact 232 opens and contact 234 closes.

Relay coil 240 pulls in when the current in the motor exceeds thepredetermined threshold level referred to previously, and this closescontact 242. Reverse timing relay 192 then pulls in opening contact 196to drop out the forward relay 188 and stop the motor, closing contacts198 and 204, and opening contacts 200 and 202. The closing of contact204 completes a circuit to reverse relay 206 through full bale limitswitch 238, so reversing relay 206 pulls in to close contacts 168, 170and 172, thus driving the machine in reverse. When the ram 64 strikesreverse limit switch 232, contact 232 closes and contact 234 opens thusdropping out the relays just referred to. As long as the electric eye222 is closed, the ram will again go forward to compact furthermaterial, and it will keep reciprocating as long as the electric eye 222is closed.

When the bale is fully formed, the ram will come to rest at full balelimit switch 238, thus opening this switch and holding it open.Therefore, the reverse relay 206 is not pulled in when the timing relaycontact 204 closes. Instead, it is necessary to open stop switch 184momentarily to drop out all relays and then close reverse switch 230momentarily to jog the ram until the slots 68 and line up with themanipulators 58 and 60. The manipulators are then operated to bind thebale in the manner described previously. The reverse switch is furtheroperated to bring the ram back to the initial position to close contact232 and open contact 234.

Then the forward switch 228 is closed pulling in the forward relay 188to operate the motor in the forward sense and drive the ram forward. Thelatches 44 are operated to release the door 38, and the ram 64 pushesthe fully formed bale out through the discharge opening and at the sametime opens the door 38. The ram is returned to the starting position byoperating the reverse switch 230, and this completes the cycle ofoperation.

Thus, it is apparent that the invention provides a primary recyclingmachine which has a number of features and advantages. The machine canbe operated either manually or automatically. Reversing of the ram isinitiated automatically by a current sensing element. Automaticoperation is initiated by a photocell sensor. The machine has atelescopic hopper closure which eliminates skirts, and it shears excessmaterial in the hopper off from the bale. Uniform density of compactionis achieved, and the bale weight is fully adjustable. Bale ejection isfully automatic.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a baling machine for compacting waste material and providing abaling chamber for receipt of material to be compacted,

a compressor member mounted for reciprocation in said chamber,

electric motive means for driving said compressor member through aforward material compression stroke and a return stroke,

a limit switch mounted for actuation at the end of said return strokeand connected to said motive means to control said compressor member atthe end of said return stroke,

a bale size switch mounted for actuation at a predetermined position ofsaid compressor member during said forward stroke,

and bale load sensing means sensing the compaction of material in saidchamber and actuated upon predetermined material compaction,

the improvement wherein said bale size switch and said bale load sensingmeans are connected to said motive means in a circuit providing:

a. termination of said forward stroke and initiation of said returnstroke on maximum material compaction if the compacted material has notreached a predetermined bale size; and

b. termination of said forward stroke on maximum material compaction andholding said compressor member against the compacted material if thelatter has reached said predetermined bale size;

c. said bale size switch and said bale load sensing means beingconnected in said circuit to hold said compressor member against thecompacted bale when said bale size switch is held actuated by saidcompressor member, and said ram being operable to move from said holdingposition to eject the bale from said chamber.

2. A baling machine according to claim 1, and further comprisingselectively operable switch means operatively connected to said limitswitch for selectively conditioning said circuit either to stop saidcompressor member at the end of said return stroke or to initiate thenext forward stroke of said compressor member at the end of said returnstroke.

3. In a baling machine for compacting waste material and providing abaling chamber for receipt of material to be compacted,

a compressor member mounted for reciprocation in said chamber,

electric motive means for driving said compressor member through aforward material compression stroke and a return stroke,

a first limit switch mounted for actuation at the end of said returnstroke and connected to said motive means to control said compressormember at the end of said return stroke,

a second limit switch mounted for actuation at the end of said forwardstroke and connected to said motive means to initiate said returnstroke,

a bale size switch mounted for actuation at a predetermined position ofsaid compressor member during said forward stroke,

and bale load sensing means sensing the compaction of material in saidchamber and actuated upon predetermined material compaction,

the improvement wherein said bale size switch and said bale load sensingmeans are connected to said motive means in a circuit providing:

a. termination of said forward stroke and initiation of said returnstroke on maximum material compaction after said bale size switch isactuated;

and

b. termination of said forward stroke on maximum material compaction andholding said compressor member against the compacted material when thelatter reaches a predetermined maximum bale size;

c. said bale size switch and said bale load sensing means beingconnected in said circuit to hold said compressor member against thecompacted bale when said bale size switch is held actuated by saidcompressor member, and said ram being operable to move from said holdingposition to eject the bale from said chamber.

4. A baling machine according to claim 3 wherein said first limit switchis connected to stop said compressor member at the end of said returnstroke.

5. A baling machine according to claim 3 wherein said first limit switchis connected to initiate the next forward stroke of said compressormember at the end of said return stroke.

1. In a baling machine for compacting waste material and providing abaling chamber for receipt of material to be compacted, a compressormember mounted for reciprocation in said chamber, electric motive meansfor driving said compressor member through a forward materialcompression stroke and a return stroke, a limit switch mounted foractuation at the end of said return stroke and connected to said motivemeans to control said compressor member at the end of said returnstroke, a bale size switch mounted for actuation at a predeterminedposition of said compressor member during said forward stroke, and baleload sensing means sensing the compaction of material in said chamberand actuated upon predetermined material compaction, the improvementwherein said bale size switch and said bale load sensing means areconnected to said motive means in a circuit providing: a. termination ofsaid forward stroke and initiation of said return stroke on maximummaterial compaction if the compacted material has not reached apredetermined bale size; and b. termination of said forward stroke onmaximum material compaction and holding said compressor member againstthe compacted material if the latter has reached said predetermined balesize; c. said bale size switch and said bale load sensing means beingconnected in said circuit to hold said compressor member against thecompacted bale when said bale size switch is held actuated by saidcompressor member, and said ram being operable to move from said holdingposition to eject the bale from said chamber.
 2. A baling machineaccording to claim 1, and further comprising selectively operable switchmeans operatively connected to said limit switch for selectivelyconditioning said circuit either to stop said compressor member at theend of said return stroke or to initiate the next forward stroke of saidcompressor member at the end of said return stroke.
 3. In a balingmachine for compacting waste material and providing a baling chamber forreceipt of material to be compacted, a compressor member mounted forreciprocation in said chamber, electric motive means for driving saidcompressor member through a forward material compression stroke and areturn stroke, a first limit switch mounted for actuation at the end ofsaid return stroke and connected to said motive means to control saidcompressor member at the end of said return stroke, a second limitswitch mounted for actuation at the end of said forward stroke andconnected to said motive means to initiate said return stroke, a balesize switch mounted for actuation at a predetermined position of saidcompressor member during said forward stroke, and bale load sensingmeans sensing the compaction of material in said chamber and actuatedupon predetermined material compaction, the improvement wherein saidbale size switch and said bale load sensing means are connected to saidmotive means in a circuit providing: a. termination of said forwardstroke and initiation of said return stroke on maximum materialcompaction after said bale size switch is actuated; and b. terminationof said forward stroke on maximum material compaction and holding saidcompressor member against the compacted material when the latter reachesa predetermined maximum bale size; c. said bale size switch and saidbale load sensing meaNs being connected in said circuit to hold saidcompressor member against the compacted bale when said bale size switchis held actuated by said compressor member, and said ram being operableto move from said holding position to eject the bale from said chamber.4. A baling machine according to claim 3 wherein said first limit switchis connected to stop said compressor member at the end of said returnstroke.
 5. A baling machine according to claim 3 wherein said firstlimit switch is connected to initiate the next forward stroke of saidcompressor member at the end of said return stroke.